George W. Parnell, 90

August 20, 2001

George W. Parnell, 90, believed to have been the longest-tenured employee of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. at the time of his retirement in 1996, died of natural causes Saturday, Aug. 18, in the Golden Age Retirement Home, Cicero. A longtime resident of Berwyn, Mr. Parnell retired after joining the Burlington and Quincy Railroad, a predecessor to Burlington Northern Santa Fe, on Feb. 14, 1929, at age 17. Mr. Parnell worked his entire career as a clerk for the railroad in the Chicago area, beginning as a general foreman's clerk at a downtown freight house. When he retired, the company quoted him in a news release as saying that he joined the railroad because his uncle was a fireman who operated steam locomotives for the Santa Fe railway in one of their Chicago yards. Mr. Parnell's pay when he started was $4.17 a day, "which was very good money in those days," he said in the release. In 1989, Burlington Northern Santa Fe dedicated its Engine No. 6157 to him. He is survived by a niece and a nephew. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday in Joseph Nosek & Sons Funeral Home, 6716 W. 16th St., Berwyn. Services will begin at 11 a.m. in the funeral home.